Church of England launches Lent app

Around one in five adults is preparing to observe the season of Lent when it gets underway on Wednesday.

As friends, family and schools get together to flip some pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the Church of England is encouraging people to get the most out of the season with its new iPhone app.

Reflections for Lent, from Church House Publishing, offers daily reflections on Bible passages from authors Martyn Percy, Principal of Ripon College, Angela Tilby, Anglican priest in Cambridge, and Jane Williams, lecturer at St Mellitus College, London, and visiting lecturer at King’s College, London.

Church House Publishing surveyed the nation on its Lenten habits and found a mixed landscape when it comes to what people are planning to give up - or do.

With just one day to go, nearly a third (32%) are still not sure what they are going to do for the season.

Women are more likely to observe Lent than men (27% versus 20%) and young people are the most enthusiastic about marking the season - 30% of 18 to 24-year-olds said they were planning to do something for Lent.

One in five of those planning to mark the season said they would try and do something positive or kind (21%), 17% said they would give up chocolate or treats, and 17% said they would stop shopping for non-essential items.

Ten per cent plan to give money to charity, while 9% said they would do something spiritual like praying or reading the Bible.

Others said they would stop swearing (9%), give up alcohol (8%), cut back on social media or gaming (7%), and stop smoking (6%).

Men were twice as likely to give up alcohol for Lent than women, while women were twice as likely to choose doing something positive or kind, and three times as likely to opt for giving up chocolate as a form of penance.

Jane Williams, co-author of the material featured on the app, said: “You can take your Lent discipline with you wherever you go by using the new Reflections for Lent app. The readable reflections on the season's Bible passages are a good alternative or accompaniment to giving up chocolate or coffee.”

Reflections for Lent is available from iTunes for £1.49.